MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — Sagaba Konate’s NBA draft dreams were dashed Thursday, when the former West Virginia forward went undrafted.
In all, 60 picks came and went, but Konate’s potential as an elite shot blocker did not warrant him a selection in the eyes of NBA general managers.
In the days leading up to the draft, Konate criss-crossed the country with invited workouts in Detroit, Dallas, Cleveland, Atlanta and Utah. All but Cleveland had a selection in the second round.
Maybe what was most telling about Konate’s draft future was that he was not invited to the NBA Combine last month in Chicago after receiving an invitation in 2018, when he was projected then as a late second-round pick.
Konate, who averaged 13.6 points and 8.0 rebounds in the eight games he appeared in this season, did receive an invitation to the G League Elite Camp, where he totaled 21 points, 21 rebounds and three blocked shots over two games.
Those games were the first action Konate saw since Dec. 8, when he had 16 points and seven blocks against Pitt.
Konate set West Virginia’s all-time record for blocks with 191 in that game, but then missed the final 27 games of the season with pain in his right knee.
Konate’s knee was a season-long drama for the Mountaineers last season.
He had surgery on the knee after attending the 2018 combine and was not at 100 percent heading into his junior season and missed some preseason practices.
He started the first five games of the season, before sitting out the sixth game with knee soreness.
He played in the next three before sitting out the rest of the season, in what West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said was a family decision.
“It’s up to him and his brother when he plays and when he doesn’t play,” Huggins said after WVU fell to Rhode Island on Dec. 16.
Three weeks later, after a loss at Texas, Huggins reiterated that Konate’s return would be a family decision.
“It ends up being a family situation. It’s not my decision.” Huggins said. “It’s he and his family. And he’s 21 years old so he should be capable of making those kinds of decisions for himself. But it’s a family situation and they got to do what they think is right.”
Konate continued to travel with his teammates while sitting out and WVU said the forward had been medically cleared and ruled him as a game-time decision in the second round of the Big 12 tournament on March 14. Konate warmed up with the team, but ultimately did not play in the Big 12 tournament or in either of the two CBI games that followed.
Konate declared for the draft on April 22 and signed with BDA Sports Management a week later.
He ruled out a return to West Virginia for a senior season at the NCAA’s deadline on May 29.
Kontae’s next path to the NBA will have to come as an undrafted free agent. He is free to negotiate a deal with any team and will likely sign a contract and be placed on an NBA Summer League team.
The summer league begins July 1 in Sacramento, Calif. and Salt Lake City. The main summer league begins in Las Vegas on July 5.
WVU in the NBA Draft under Bob Huggins
2008: Joe Alexander, No. 8 to Milwaukee.
2010: Da’Sean Butler, No. 42 to Miami; Devin Ebanks, No. 43 to L.A. Lakers.
2018: Jevon Carter, No. 32 to Memphis.
2019 Big 12 draftees
No. 6: Jarrett Culver (Texas Tech) by Phoenix. Rights traded to Minnesota.
No. 8: Jaxon Hayes (Texas) by Atlanta. Rights traded to New Orleans.
No. 46: Talen Horton-Tucker (Iowa State) by L.A. Lakers
No. 54: Marial Shayok (Iowa State) by Philadelphia.
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